Composition for forming a patterned metal film on a substrate

Abstract

A composition for forming a patterned thin metal film on a substrate is presented. The composition includes metal cations; and at least one solvent, wherein the patterned thin metal film is adhered to a surface of the substrate upon exposure of the at least metal cations to a low-energy plasma.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ink composition for forming a patterned thin metal film on a substrate, comprising:
 metal cations; 
 at least one solvent; and 
 
       at least one additive for changing the viscosity of said ink composition; 
       wherein the patterned thin metal film is formed on a surface of the substrate upon exposure of the at least metal cations to a low-energy plasma; wherein the at least one solvent is a mixture of at least two types of solvents; and wherein the at least two types of solvents include at least a high surface tension solvent that is glycol-based solvent or Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and a low surface tension solvent that is alcohol-based solvent; wherein the metal cations include HAuCl 4 ; wherein the concentration of the metal cations HAuCl 4  is 40 wt. %; wherein the at least one solvent includes water and ethanol that are low surface tension solvents; and wherein the ratio of water to ethanol is 90:10 wt. %. 
     
     
       2. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein a temperature of the surface of the substrate upon exposure to the low-energy plasma is between 50° C. and 70° C., inclusive. 
     
     
       3. The ink composition of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 counterions for stabilizing the metal cations. 
 
     
     
       4. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one additive is any of: organic molecules, polymers, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes (CNT), densifiers, organic solvents, and surfactants. 
     
     
       5. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ink composition is in a form of any of: a solution, a dispersion, a suspension, a gel, and a colloid. 
     
     
       6. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one high surface tension solvent is any of: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       7. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is any one of: an organic substrate, an inorganic substrate, a hybrid organic-inorganic substrate, a ceramic substrate, a silicon substrate, and a glass substrate. 
     
     
       8. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is any one of: a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, a polyimide substrate, and a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrate. 
     
     
       9. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the low-energy plasma is an inert gas plasma. 
     
     
       10. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the low-energy plasma includes at least any of: an Argon plasma, a Nitrogen plasma, and an Oxygen plasma. 
     
     
       11. The ink composition of  claim 1 , wherein the ink composition is applied on the substrate by means including at least any of: drop-casting, spin-coating, spray-coating, immersion, flexography, gravure, inkjet printing, aerosol jet printing, and contact imprinting. 
     
     
       12. An ink composition for forming a patterned thin metal film on a substrate, comprising:
 metal cations; 
 at least one solvent; and 
 
       at least one additive for changing the viscosity of said ink composition; 
       wherein the patterned thin metal film is formed on a surface of the substrate upon exposure of the at least metal cations to a low-energy plasma; wherein the at least one solvent is a mixture of at least two types of solvents; and wherein the at least two types of solvents include at least a high surface tension solvent that is glycol-based solvent or Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and a low surface tension solvent that is alcohol-based solvent; wherein the metal cations include Cu(NO 3 ) 2 ; wherein the concentration of the metal cations is 3 wt. %, wherein the mixture of solvents includes water and 2-propanol that are low surface tension solvents, and Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) that is high surface tension solvent; and wherein the ratio of water to 2-propanol to DMSO is 80:15:5 wt. %. 
     
     
       13. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein a temperature of the surface of the substrate upon exposure to the low-energy plasma is between 50° C. and 70° C., inclusive. 
     
     
       14. The ink composition of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 counterions for stabilizing the metal cations. 
 
     
     
       15. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one additive is any of: organic molecules, polymers, conductive polymers, carbon nanotubes (CNT), densifiers, organic solvents, and surfactants. 
     
     
       16. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the ink composition is in a form of any of: a solution, a dispersion, a suspension, a gel, and a colloid. 
     
     
       17. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one high surface tension solvent is any of: Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and propylene carbonate. 
     
     
       18. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is any one of: an organic substrate, an inorganic substrate, a hybrid organic-inorganic substrate, a ceramic substrate, a silicon substrate, and a glass substrate. 
     
     
       19. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is any one of: a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate, a polyimide substrate, and a polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) substrate. 
     
     
       20. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the low-energy plasma is an inert gas plasma. 
     
     
       21. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the low-energy plasma includes at least any of: an Argon plasma, a Nitrogen plasma, and an Oxygen plasma. 
     
     
       22. The ink composition of  claim 12 , wherein the ink composition is applied on the substrate by means including at least any of: drop-casting, spin-coating, spray-coating, immersion, flexography, gravure, inkjet printing, aerosol jet printing, and contact imprinting.